ISLAMABAD: Bill Gates, the co-founder of Microsoft and a wealthy philanthropist, arrived in Pakistan on Thursday for a day-long visit, during which he will meet Prime Minister Imran Khan and attend other scheduled events.
Gates, who is also the co-chairman of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, is visiting the country for the first time. He went to the anti-polio program’s headquarters, where he was briefed by the program’s director, Dr. Shehzad Baig, on Covid-19 and polio preventive efforts in the country.
Dr. Faisal Sultan, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health, turned to Twitter to wish Gates a warm welcome to Pakistan.
According to the SAPM, Gates’ schedule includes meetings with President Arif Alvi, a visit to the NCOC, and a review of the Ehsaas programme.
Gates and the prime minister had previously discussed issues of mutual concern, including as polio eradication in Pakistan and the current Covid-19 pandemic.
The prime minister praised the Gates Foundation’s efforts to combat poverty, sickness, and inequity around the world.
PM Imran underlined that polio eradication is a top priority for the government, and that efforts are being made to ramp up the anti-polio campaign across the country.
